A collection of souvenirs exclusive to the Big Island of Hawaii, from Kona to Hilo. Including rare items found by our editorial team.

Big Island Candies, a classic Hawaiian souvenir, Hilo main store

How to Find Exclusive Items You Can Only Buy on the Big Island

Big Island Candies is a classic among souvenirs from the Big Island of Hawaii. Their shortbread cookies, filled with rich butter and macadamia nuts, are popular for their addictive sweetness and crispy texture. They come in sturdy paper boxes and have stylish gift wrapping, making them perfect souvenirs for superiors and important family members. Their direct sales stores are only available here at the main store in Hilo, at the Ala Moana Shopping Center in Honolulu, and online. You can also get some of their popular products at the duty-free shop "T Galleria" in Honolulu.

"Hey, you can get that in Honolulu too."

Don't be fooled. All cookies are produced in the factory at the main store in Hilo and shipped by air. Therefore, the price is slightly higher in Honolulu or online, and packages that cannot be shipped and rare items can only be purchased at the main store in Hilo.

This is the interior of the main store in Hilo. In addition to being able to sample seasonal flavors, staff who are fluent in Japanese will explain the products to you in detail. You can also see the cookie manufacturing factory through the glass. This is a popular spot on sightseeing tours of the Big Island of Hawaii.

So how do you find items that are only available on the Big Island? It's actually quite simple. Just look closely at the price tags on the display and you'll immediately know whether the item is only available at the Hilo main store or is also sold in Honolulu.

This shortbread is also sold at the Ala Moana Shopping Center in Honolulu. If you look closely at the price tag, you will see (*** AM). AM is the abbreviation for Ala Moana.

There is no (AM) mark on this price tag. In other words, it is an item that is only available at the Hiro main store. If you look around the store, you will find limited items everywhere. If you have come to Hawaii Island, try looking for limited flavors while keeping to the classic macadamia nut and chocolate flavors.

From here on, we will introduce some rare items that our editorial team has found.

Seasonal limited edition and gift items (brownies and shortbread) are perfect souvenirs for your boss.

Big Island Candies' staples are shortbread cookies and brownies. They come in a wide variety of flavors, but the must-have items at the Hiro main store are the seasonal flavors and limited edition gift-wrapped items.

The editorial team visited in December, and at this time of year there was a wide selection of holiday-style gift wrapping.

On the left is the standard brownie "Peppermint Brownie Box." A classic dark chocolate brownie with the addition of peppermint flavor, it's truly an "adult taste."

On the right is the "Cinnamon White Dipped Macadamia Nut Shortbread." A slightly salty macadamia nut shortbread coated in cinnamon-flavored white chocolate. Enjoy it together with the classic chocolate flavor to enjoy both sweetness and spiciness.

The cookies supervised by Harumi Kurihara are limited edition items. While you'll have to queue in Honolulu, you can easily get them at the main store in Hiro!

This is "Harumi's Hawaiian Salt Cookies," a product created in collaboration with Japanese culinary expert Harumi Kurihara.

It was released in May 2019 and quickly became a super popular Hawaiian souvenir. Based on the Hawaiian salt that Kurihara actually uses in his cooking, the cookies are supervised by Kurihara himself, and have further evolved the crunchy texture that is characteristic of Big Island Candies.

This super popular item, which has long lines every day at the Ala Moana Shopping Center in Honolulu and sells out quickly, can be easily purchased at the Hiro main store (up to two boxes per person). Our editorial team visited the store around 2pm on a holiday, but there still seemed to be plenty of stock. These cookies are not too sweet and have a nice salty taste with Hawaiian salt, so they would go well with alcohol. They would also make a great souvenir for people who don't like sweet things.

Kona coffee, "sweet and spicy" chocolate, and more. Big Island Candies' "connoisseur" products selected by our editorial team

Now, let's introduce some of the unique and rare items that our editorial team selected from the wide range of items at Hiro Main Store.

If you're looking for a souvenir for those who don't like chocolate, we recommend the "Golden Macadamia Nut Brownie." It's topped with crushed macadamia nuts and has just the right amount of sweetness.

A shocking taste: "Chocolate Chili Cookie." The cookies, housed in a stylish cylindrical box, look like ordinary chocolate cookies at first glance. When you put one in your mouth, the rich sweetness of the chocolate spreads throughout your mouth, but the next moment, a spiciness that stimulates the top of your head hits you with a tingling sensation. Deeply sweet and deeply spicy. This was the most shocking taste of all the ones we tried in this interview. Be sure to pick one up as a conversation topic with your friends.

Since the bagged packages can lose their shape when shipped by air, many of the products are only available at the Hiro main store. The shortbread cookies on the right of the photo are from this bagged series, but because they are not individually wrapped, they are reasonably priced. There are also many limited edition flavors. The editorial team chose the coffee-flavored shortbread cookies. The subtle aroma of coffee hits you the moment you pick them up. The aroma spreads even more when you put them in your mouth. They are not too sweet, so they would go well with alcohol.

And the more unusual ones are the rice crackers in the center of the picture and the chocolate-coated squid on the left. As for the taste... it's best to enjoy them as "unusual."

Among the brownie series, the Mochi Brownie has a unique texture. It has the same taste as a regular chocolate brownie, but is fluffy and chewy.

Kona coffee is a standard souvenir from the Big Island of Hawaii. It's also a popular item at Big Island Candies. The photo shows the original Kona coffee from the Hilo main store. The refreshing taste of Kona coffee goes perfectly with cookies and brownies. In addition to the dark roast shown in the photo, they also offer medium roasts and other varieties. You can sample the flavors to choose your favorite.

Also recommended as a souvenir to give to others. Limited edition at local supermarkets

Many travel lovers say that when they go abroad, they always go to a local supermarket to look for souvenirs. Of course, there are local supermarkets on the Big Island of Hawaii that are perfect for exploring organic and local specialties. Let's introduce some of the specialties that our editorial team found.

Island Naturals Market & Deli is a long-established organic supermarket on the Big Island of Hawaii that also stocks cosmetics and miscellaneous goods.

Speaking of organic supermarkets, the standard spots are Whole Foods on Oahu and Island Naturals Market and Deli on Hawaii Island. The store has three locations on Hawaii Island: Kona, Hilo, and Pahoa. They offer a selection of health-conscious and organic products, including food, cosmetics, and daily necessities. This is a long-established market that has been proposing an organic lifestyle for over 20 years.

At the Kailua-Kona store of Island Naturals, they display local specialties with Japanese tourists in mind. This is easy to understand. Let's take a look at the souvenirs we found at this store.

A delicious iced tea bag with the refreshing aroma and clean taste of mango from the Big Island of Hawaii.

The cutely designed Kona Mango iced tea bags feature the refreshing aroma and clean taste of mangoes from the Big Island of Hawaii. They can be used as iced tea in the summer, but can also be surprisingly enjoyed hot in the cold winter.

The highly rare "white honey" is perfect as a special souvenir

And when it comes to local products that can only be found locally, there's honey from the Big Island. Island Naturals has a lineup of more than five local honey brands. Among them, we've picked two that are delicious and rare.

First up is white honey produced by 'AHA HONEY HOUSE, a bee farm located in Waimea (Kamuela) in the northern part of Hawaii Island. When it comes to honey on the Big Island, much of it is made using rare kiawe nectar, and is produced in raw honey form using a special method to extract the nectar before it crystallizes. As it is not processed to remove pollen (bee pollen) or enzymes, it is a honey with high purity and nutritional value. According to the store clerk, this honey is produced in small quantities and is not widely distributed.

Another item is raw honey from WAI MELI, which was founded in 2011 and is a relatively recent product. Made with the recent growing trend towards organic and health-conscious products in mind, this honey is not only delicious, but also has a beautiful finished color. The one I got this time was the basic brown, but they also have white honey and a more transparent, deep brown variety. The bottle is simple and beautiful, making it the perfect special souvenir.

Recommended for yourself: Organic cosmetics from Hawaii with stylish packaging "KONA SKIN CARE"

Speaking of organic supermarkets, they also have a wide selection of organic cosmetics. This is a popular category for tourists. Cosmetics may not be suitable as souvenirs because they vary depending on the skin of each person, but if you are buying them for yourself, it's a different story. This is the perfect place to find your favorite items.

Island Naturals also sells a number of organic cosmetics brands that are distributed in the US, but our editorial team found a somewhat rare brand called "KONA SKIN CARE" made on the Big Island of Hawaii. The skin care brand, which was founded after its founder Robinson was diagnosed with cancer, became popular for its skin care items that cater to specific needs, such as moisturizing cream for tattoos and cream specifically for eyeliner. They also have a unique product called "Kona Coffee Facial Wash" with a cute label design. Why not buy one for yourself as a memorable souvenir?

I couldn't resist buying it for the cover. A tote bag made by a local coffee farm.

Finally, I also got a tote bag from the local coffee farm "Buddha's Cup" at Island Naturals. The design is so cute. I bought it just for the cover.

This shopper is a tote bag, and it's reversible. The design is cute, but the surface is made of straw, so it's a bit stiff. However, when you turn it inside out, the fabric is soft to the touch, and the design is stylish and Hawaiian.

At local supermarkets on the Big Island, you can purchase original farm goods like these and even sample coffee made from freshly picked beans.

Kona coffee is available at the local supermarket "KTA" on the Big Island of Hawaii.

KTA Super Stores (KTA) is a large local supermarket on the Big Island of Hawaii. They sell all kinds of daily necessities and food, and also have a wide selection of locally grown fresh vegetables. This large supermarket gives you a sense of the daily life of the locals, and just wandering around the various shelves is fun as you can imagine the local life of Hawaii. Of course, it's also a great place to look for souvenirs when you're visiting the Big Island.

Of the more than 20 varieties of Kona coffee available, we compared the eight varieties we actually purchased.

If you are looking for Kona coffee, a classic souvenir from Hawaii Island, then KTA is the place to go. From major brands to rare Kona coffee grown on small farms on the island, there are over 20 different brands of coffee beans and flavored coffees on offer. If you want to buy souvenirs for your colleagues or friends in bulk, this is the place to go.

The characteristic of Kona coffee is the perfect balance of acidity and richness. It has little bitterness and a mellow taste, making it perfect for drinking after a meal or with sweets. The rich, fruity aroma when you open the bottle will make you feel like you're in a tropical country.

With over 20 varieties to choose from, it's hard to know which one to choose... The editorial team was also troubled, but we decided to choose the one we liked best based on the package design, just like buying a bottle for its cover.

First of all, "LION" (②), "VOLCANOCOFFEE COMPANY" (⑥), and "BIG ISLAND COFFEE HOLSTER" (⑦) are the standard brands for "The Kona Coffee Souvenir". "BIG ISLAND" is particularly popular, with specialty shops on the island. "KONAGLOVE" (⑤) has a local feel with its slightly rough packaging, giving it a local souvenir feel. Of these, it had a very refreshing taste. If you're looking for a cute package, try "MOUNTAIN THUNDER" (③). The vanilla roast in particular has an irresistible, mellow aroma. It's the perfect souvenir for those who want to enjoy coffee casually.

"MONGOOSEMOUNTAINTHUNDER" (⑧) was sold in a drip bag style, which is rare for 100% Kona coffee. It is recommended for those who want to enjoy coffee easily. And instead of Kona coffee, there was also coffee with the name of a place other than Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. "BIO ECO HAWAII" (①) is KA'U Coffee from the Ka'u district of Hawaii Island, and it is organic. There is also "HILO COFFEE" (④) from the Hilo district. Like Kona coffee, both have an excellent balance of refreshing acidity and rich aftertaste.

And sometimes when you buy in bulk at the supermarket, you can get a special gift. On the day I went, the cashier gave me a mug. This would make a great souvenir.

A rare and stylish souvenir from the Big Island found during a drive

Hawaii Island is a vast island with many tourist sites scattered across it, so it is convenient to travel by car, but the drive through the majestic nature is also an impressive experience. In addition, there are small shops between the tourist sites, so there is no shortage of places to stop by. Here are some of the best places to buy souvenirs.

Mr. Ed's Bakery offers over 100 kinds of homemade jams

First, let's start with the Honomu district on the Big Island of Hawaii. This is a small town that you will pass by when touring Akaka Falls. The neighboring town is the Honokaa district, which was made famous in the movie, and this area is dotted with retro, colorful buildings, making it a great place to stop by during a drive. Located in the Honomu district, MR. ED's BAKERY has recently been featured in the media and has become very popular.

As it is a bakery, they sell bread at the front of the store, but the highlight is the jam section at the back of the store. The variety is astounding! There are easily over 100 different varieties of jam lined up.

There are many kinds of jams, mainly from tropical fruits such as pineapple, guava, passion fruit, mango, papaya, etc. Basically, they are a mix of two flavors, and there are countless combinations such as those with two fruits, coconut, and lilikoi butter, so it's hard to choose. There are also plenty of jams that can be used in cooking, such as chili and mustard.

If you can't decide, try some on the spot! You can try a few of the most popular flavors. Although Ed, the owner, wasn't there on the day we visited, he sometimes explains his recommendations.

The editorial team chose the fruity and sour papaya and pineapple jam, and the recently popular mango jam made with lilikoi butter. Both have a rich flavor. The mason jars are also cute. This is a souvenir we would definitely recommend to friends who prefer bread for breakfast.

The Waimea area on the Big Island of Hawaii is a great place to take a break from driving

Next is the Waimea (Kamuela) district of Hawaii Island. This is a highland town located halfway along the road that connects Kona and Hilo in a northern loop. In the center of town, there is a shopping center and Parker Ranch, where you can find a shop selling souvenirs from Hawaii Island and the popular hamburger restaurant "Village Burger," which uses beef from a local ranch. It's a great place to stop off for a rest while driving.

Rare honey from Rare Hawaiian Honey's own store

About a five-minute drive from the center of the city is the factory and direct sales store of Rare Hawaiian Honey. Rare Hawaiian Honey is a classic Hawaiian white honey brand. It is so popular that it is sold at Whole Foods and ABC Stores, and many people have received it as a souvenir. Since it is so widely distributed in Hawaii, I thought it would be great to be able to get rare honey at a direct store of a local factory, so I stopped by.

The directly managed store is attached to a factory, so at first glance it looks like an ordinary factory. If you go close to the building, you will find a small sign and the store.

This is the full lineup sold in the store. The color on the far left is the standard organic white kiawe honey. Other flavors include lemon, macadamia nut, and ginger. You can sample all of them. And here are the limited edition products I got at this directly managed store.

The first photo shows the label that says it's only sold at Costco in Hawaii. The flavor is the same as the basic one. There are also limited edition flavors, peppermint and winter honey, which are only sold in winter. Peppermint has a refreshing aftertaste, just like the lemon flavor.

Actually, the thing I wanted to get the most was this eco bag. The design with the sturgeon illustration was also used on the bottle label until a few years ago, but it is no longer in production. I got a rare item.

Things to keep in mind when buying jams and honey

The honey and jams introduced here are considered liquids over 100ml and are therefore prohibited from being carried on board international flights. Also, because they are bottles, they are heavy, so be sure to pay attention to the weight restrictions for checked baggage when purchasing them.